Not exactly Profiles in Courage, is it?

Here are the results from your calls to Senators thus far in support of Dawn Johnsen for OLC:

Boxer:  Staffer didn’t know.

Byrd: Staffer didn’t know.

Cornyn:  No (although the local office thinks he may be listening to constituents).

Feinstein: Hasn’t made up her mind on first call.  Second call to her office staffer says she intends to vote for Johnsen.

Hutchinson: Hasn’t made her wishes known publicly.

Rockefeller: Staffer didn’t know.

Whitehouse:  I know for certain he’s supporting Dawn’s nomination, so good for him.

Please keep the calls going to your Senators in support for Dawn Johnsen. Remember, you can double your impact by phoning local offices as well.

Let me know what answers you get on where they stand. Thanks so much for all the effort this morning, gang!

UPDATE:

Bingaman: Staffer is “[n]ot aware of Senator Bingaman’s position.”

Udall: Staffer says "“Senator Udall hasn’t taken a position,” but she sounded happy that I called in support.

Voinavich: No public statement on this as yet.

House of cards via nebulant.

I’ve been hearing conflicting reports about weakening GOP opposition to OLC nominee Dawn Johnsen and State department lawyer Harold Koh. So much so that it’s become a bit like a ping pong match in my in-box on where things stand.

There have been some very high profile conservatives standing up FOR these nominees. Ted Olsen for Harold Koh:

I have the greatest respect for Harold Koh,” Olson said. “He’s a brilliant scholar and a man of great integrity.

And most recently, Ken Starr:

In a speech at Yale Law School on Thursday, conservative icon Kenneth Starr announced his support for Koh before an audience of about 95 students and professors…

And former Reagan OLC head Doug Kmiec went to bat for Dawn Johnsen in Legal Times:

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) properly insists that the next OLC chief must be of the “requisite seriousness.” Johnsen is. She understands the fundamental difference between academic commentary and giving legal opinion on behalf of the United States. That she has sharply criticized some conservative policy is no more relevant to her ability than if she liked outré modern art and displayed it in her living room. Indeed, as a former OLC deputy (during the Clinton administration) and a respected scholar of the executive, she has a uniquely well-informed understanding of the OLC’s role as honest broker. For this reason alone, she merits the Senate’s approval.

Add that to public support from former Clinton-era OLC chief Walter Dellinger, and then ask Sen. Cornyn to explain his "not serious" comment again.

The best thing anyone can do is nudge at the weak spots as much as possible.  It occurred to me that since Easter recess is ongoing, lots of elected folks may be making public appearances around their states. Which makes for some interesting public questioning opportunities. (more…)

There will be a town hall meeting in Minnesota on the economy, the middle class woes, and other issues. But the questions and discussion points have been opened up to a nationwide forum via the newly set-up website for it.

Now’s your chance to raise your voice on the issues you care about. Thought folks would want a heads up on this.

Middle Class Task Force to Hold Town Hall Meeting in St. Cloud, Minnesota

On March 19th in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the Middle Class Task Force will hold a town hall meeting, titled “Road to Recovery: Building a Strong Middle Class through the Recovery Act.” The focus of the town hall will be to discuss ways the Recovery Act implementation will help the middle class.

The Vice President and task force members will be taking questions submitted thru the website from people all over the country, as well as members of the audience. The Task Force is visiting and holding its meeting at the New Flyer of America Bus Company in St. Cloud, Minnesota. New Flyer is a leader in transit innovation and low-emission, alternative fueled vehicles. Public transportation funding in the Recovery Act will help create private sector jobs and enable more state and local governments add new, low-emission buses and expand public transportation options. In 2008, New Flyer hired more than 90 people at its St. Cloud plant and has operated around the clock to fulfill a two-year backlog of orders. This facility now has 650 employees.

For everyone who wants to have their say about healthcare, it looks like some opportunities may be upcoming from the Obama administration.

Those of you who feel passionately about these issues could have an opportunity to speak your mind. What would you say? I’m betting some of you would be able to come well-prepared to speak up — and you should!